[Jeni]

Hello, Could any one tell me what has been killing my strawberries, some where 2 years old, some where from runners from last year but they are all dead, I have pulled them up and  the root system was a brown/orange colour, I found a white gurb in the roots. What are they and how can I get rid of them,thanks in advance.

[gavinjconway]

Mine look the same and are just starting to wake up from the winter... you may have thrown away sleeping plants   

[Jeni]

I was thinking that when I was looking at them, do you no what that gurb is that was in the roots, I thought that might of took all the life out of them.

[Yorkie]

Was the grub about 1cm long, slightly curled into a C shape, with a brown head at one tip?

If so, it's likely to be a vine weevil which is rather partial to strawberry roots.  There have been a couple of threads about it in the last few days on here.

You can apply nematodes when the weather has warmed up if you want, though they aren't cheap.  Two other alternatives are either to wait and see how far it spreads (depending on damage done so far), or to dig up your existing plants, hose off all soil to ensure no grubs remain, and replant elsewhere / in pots.

[jondav14]

yep most likely the evil weevils have struck again. I always save some of the runners and plant them somewhere else over the winter just in case I get attacked.

[Jeni]

It was just white like a fat caterpillar, thats the only way I can descripe it.

[fatcat1955]

Deffo a vine weevil grub. I would dig up all the plants and wash the soil off the roots. Check carefully for eggs or grubs before re-planting in fresh compost.